-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Villarreal were denied the chance to return to the top of Spain 's La Liga after an incident-packed 2-2 draw at promoted Hercules on Monday night in which three players were sent off .

Hercules led 2-1 with goals from new signings Nelson Valdez and David Trezeguet , but the latter was sent off just before halftime and Villarreal leveled through Borja Valero -- who later left the field for a second yellow card before defender Mateo Musacchio received a straight red .

The visitors , who would have moved a point clear of Real Madrid with victory in Alicante , hit the post early on through Brazilian striker Nilmar but fell behind in the 26th minute when Paraguay striker Valdez scored following Royston Drenthe 's free-kick .

Spain full-back Joan Capdevila equalized from close range three minutes later following a low Angel Lopez cross , then teammate Giuseppe Rossi hit the post .

However , Trezeguet pounced to net his fourth league goal since arriving from Juventus when Villarreal could not clear Drenthe 's right-wing cross , but the 33-year-old former France star was dismissed for two quickfire yellow cards for dissent after Valero fouled Valdez .

Villarreal made their extra man pay off just after the hour mark when Valero drilled in a right-foot low shot after home goalkeeper Jose Calatayud blocked efforts from Nilmar and Rossi .

Villarreal wasted several more chances before losing Valero in the 81st minute when the on-loan midfielder was booked for handball , then three minutes later Musacchio brought down Drenthe with the Argentine ruled to be the last line of defense .

That gave Hercules the advantage , but Drenthe and Abraham Paz were denied in injury-time by goalkeeper Diego Lopez .

The result left Villarreal in second place above Barcelona and Valencia on goal difference , with all three teams having 16 points from seven matches .

Hercules are 10th in the 20-team league , with eight points -- nine behind Real and above Real Mallorca , Sporting Gijon and Levante on goal difference .

Meanwhile , Blackburn Rovers survived the first-half dismissal of key defender Christopher Samba to earn a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland in Monday 's only English Premier League clash .

The Congo international was sent off in the third minute of injury-time after bringing down Sunderland 's on-loan striker Danny Welbeck just outside the penalty area .

The draw -- Sunderland 's fifth in a row -- left both teams just three points above the bottom three after eight games .

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Former France star David Trezeguet scores and is sent off as Hercules draw with Villarreal

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The visitors also have two players dismissed in Spanish league clash in Alicante

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Villarreal end the night in second place on goal difference , a point behind Real Madrid

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Blackburn draw 0-0 at home to English rivals Sunderland despite having a man sent off